One officer was pushed and punched in the head while another was thrown to the ground in the ''fracas'', the second time in recent weeks police staff have been attacked in the central city.
Police had been called to the Octagon to arrest a 19-year-old for a home detention breach, when he ''played up'' for the arresting officers, Senior Sergeant Dave Scott said.
''He has resisted and there has been a scuffle.
''Some of his sidekicks have become involved - a group of up to eight - which led to security staff from the Octagon coming to police's assistance, so eventually it led to him being handcuffed.''
Snr Sgt Scott thanked the security staff for their assistance.
''They have stepped up and helped us out, which is appreciated''.
Jamie Hughes, owner of Toast Bar, was walking outside about midnight on Saturday when he saw ''an officer fly sideways, and another cop fly the other way''.
''Then everything exploded ... Two Octagon doormen went flying in to help the cops out and I ran in to stop people from getting involved.''
A large group of young people had been drinking in the central carriageway and he stopped one - holding a cannabis joint in one hand and an RTD in another - trying to assault one of the officers.
''These guys had absolutely no respect for police. They were calling them names, one girl was showing her breasts, another guy was mooning the cops ... it was just hideous.''
The 19-year-old, who was described as being extremely intoxicated, is due to appear in the Dunedin District Court today for failing to appear on a warrant, three charges of assault and two charges of resisting arrest.
Four other people were given pre-charge warnings for disorderly behaviour and obstructing justice after they attempted to assist the man.
The police officers were ''fine'' apart from having headaches, Acting Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen, of Dunedin, said.
A video of the incident showing a man being taken into custody was posted on YouTube.
The incident comes after a male and a female officer were assaulted in the Octagon earlier this month, in an attack slammed as ''cowardly and disgraceful''.
That attack happened at 4am on Sunday, December 7, after police were called to a fight between two brothers.
One of the brothers punched the male officer in the head, before punching the female officer in the back of her head, knocking her to the ground, and then punching her several times in the face.
